Police Arrest 9 Pakistani Foreigners in Batam Island

Liputan98, BATAM – The Batam Barelang Police (Satpolairud) secured as many as 9 Foreign Citizens from Pakistan who were being transported using a speed boat in Batu Ampar Sea, Batam, Thursday (4/8).

The Pakistani citizens are crew members of the MT Metis ship who are anchoring in Nongsa Waters, Batam. The foreign crew members of this ship entered Batam massively when PPKM Level 4 was implemented in Batam.

Invisible Polairud Polresta Barelang Batam Kompol Syaiful Badawi said his party secured the Pakistani citizens of the ship’s crew because the shipping agent could not show legal and official supporting documents.

“When they were secured, all of the Pakistani citizens were being transported by SB Sea Elephant owned by PT Trans Shiping Sokhifao. The agent in charge could not show the documents, on the grounds that they were at the office and not brought to the ship,” he said.

Badawi explained that the chronology of the arrests was when the Satpolairud Gakhum Team suspected that a speed boat was heading towards the Batuampar Makobar Port, at around 03.30 WIB. When checked, the speed of PT Trans Shiping Sokhifao was picking up foreigners who got off the MT Metis ship to undergo a crew change.

“The reason is because the agents are because the foreigners will return to their home countries of Pakistan and are no longer working on the MT Metis Ship. The shipping agent PT Trans Shiping argues that these Pakistani foreigners who get off this ship will be taken to the Harris Batam Center Hotel, Batam, Riau Islands, to go into quarantine,” he said.

Furthermore, Badawi asserted, the Police had conducted an interrogation of the shipping agent PT Trans Shiping. Meanwhile, these 9 foreigners have been interrogated and underwent a series of medical tests to prevent Covid 19. Furthermore, coordination with the Port Health Quarantine Office (KKP), Immigration and the Bhayangkara Hospital of the Riau Islands Police has also been carried out.

“The team has carried out the Antigen Rapid Test, the PCR SWAB Test was carried out on 9 Pakistani foreigners and will take the foreigners to the designated quarantine facilities. Further investigations regarding alleged criminal acts in accordance with the Health Quarantine Act, Immigration Act and Shipping Law will also be carried out,” ” he said.